Improvement in frames for drying curtains



TME-s PATENT @Enron HENRY E. MARSH, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

iMPRoV'EM'i-:NTWN FRAMES FOR DRYING CURTAINS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0f2l1g032, dated December 17, 187.8; application led October 5, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY F. MARSH, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Frame for Dry j ing Curtains; and that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making part of this specification.

This invention is in the nature of an improvement in-frames for drying curtains, 85e.; and the invention consists in a frame for drying curtains, constructed with two telescopic or sliding jointed sides with set-screws and grooves and countersunk clamps, one of the sides having affixed to it, at right angles, hinged adjustable bars forming the ends of the frame, the frame being provided with an independent adjustable cross-bar forming a brace, and also constituting an additional support for the curtains, Ste., and the whole frame being provided on one side with pins, substantially as is hereinafter moreV particularly described.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Figure l is a plan or top view of under side of my frame; Fig. 2, a side View; and Fig. 3, a cross section in line w x, Fig. 1, showing grooves for pins and rabbet for clamp.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures.

A A' represent the sides of myframe. These sides are each constructed in two parts, a a', united together by clamps b and by clamps c, so Athat the one portion or part, a', of the sides will slide telescopically on the other portion, afthe length of the sides being thereby reduced, elongated, or rendered adjustable to any extent desired, the clamps c being provided with set-screws e, which hold the two parts a a' of the sides in the position to which they may be adjusted. To the ends ofthe side A are secured, by hinged joints f, the ends B B of the frame. The hinge-joints enable the ends B to lie parallel with the side A, or to assume a position at right angles to the same, as shown in Fig. l, and when in the right-angular position they may be affixed to the side bar, A', by clamps g g, having set-screwsh 7L,- also, to the side bars, A A', are fixed clamps lo k. Into these clamps may be inserted a cross-bar, C,

grooves, and thus offer no obstacle to the free sliding of the part c' upon the part c, and of the end pieces, B, upon the side bar, A', when they are adjusted upon each other. The upper surface of the part a' of each of the side bars,

A A', also has a small groove, p, cut across it to receive the pins m of the cross bar G. Each of the side bars, AA', has also formed in it a rabbet, fr, (the drawings show a rabbet in l the side bar, A, only in the section Fig. 3,) which enables the clamp b to be countersunk below the surface of the bar, so that the frame may be adj usted without danger from the curtain catchin g on'the clamp and being torn.

Now, my drying and stretching frame being constructed as I have described, it is operated as follows: The curtain, Snc., to be dried and stretched, after it is washed, and while it is still wet, is carefully placed with its edges on the pins m of the frame, the frame having been adjusted to fit the size of the curtain lengthwise by sliding the side bars, A A', to the proper length, and holding them in that position by the set-screws c e, and the width of the frame made to correspond with the width of the curtain by adjusting the end pieces, B B, in the clamps g g of the side bar, A', in which position they are kept by the setscrews h h, these adjustments resulting in stretching the curtain tightly, so that when it dries it will be smooth and with straight edges.

In the event of stretching a particularlylon g and heavy curtain, which would tend to bend the side bars, A A', by its weight, and to act as a brace to keep the frame stiff, I provide a cross-bar, C, before mentioned, which is, when the frame is extended full length, inserted in the clamps lo k on each ofthe side bars, A A', and held firmly in that position by the setscrews Z. It will then, as is seen, form a brace which supports the sides and supports the curtain to keep it from bellying." This cross-bar C also has another purpose: For drying curtains of small size it is inserted in one of the clamps 7c 7c, held fast by its set-screw l, and then, as the side bars, A A', are slid together, it forms a support for the side or end of a smaller curtain than could be Without it dried and stretched on the frame.

Then the frame is not in use the end bars, B B, are, by means of the hinges f, laid parallel with the side bars, A A', so that all the parts may lie parallel and together, and take up but little room when not in use.

Having` thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire' to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l.. A frame for drying curtains, &c., oon.- structed with telescopic side bars, A A', with clamps bc g 7c and set-screws eh Z, and hinged end bars, B B, the said bars AA' and B B being provided with pins m, and with an independent adjustable cross-bar, G, substantially v 

